Slack forming device for cloth laying machines

ABSTRACT

Improved slack-forming means for use in conjunction with a cloth laying carriage having a positively driven web feed roller to provide additional cloth web links at the completion of an end fold, particularly when laying cloth having an excessive tendancy to stretch under tension. The improved structure includes the mounting of known fold forming bars for relative longitudinal movement with respect to the carriage. Means is provided on the cloth laying table for arresting movement of the bar structure prior to the arresting of the carriage at the end of each cloth laying cycle, so that with the additional movement of the carriage, the positively driven roller continues to feed a short length of cloth web to thereby provide necessary slack for performing a uniform fold.

United States Patent Paterson [451 July 18, 1972 l 541 SLACK FORMING DEVICE FOR CIJOTII LAYING MACHINES 3,468,529 9/1969 3,112,107 ll/l963 3,141,665 7/l964 Martin, Sr. et aL. ...270/3l Theodosiou ...270/3l Gilbert ..270/3l Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell Arm-tan: Examiner-L. R. Oremiand AnorneyChax-les E. Temko [57] ABSTRACT Improved slack-forming means for use in conjunction with a cloth laying carriage having a positively driven web feed roller to provide additional cloth web links at the completion of an end fold, particularly when laying cloth having an excessive tendancy to stretch under tension. The improved structure includes the mounting of known fold forming bars for relative longitudinal movement with respect to the carriage. Means is provided on the cloth laying table for arresting movement of the bar structure prior to the arresting of the carriage at the end of each cloth laying cycle, so that with the additional movement of the carriage, the positively driven roller continues to feed a short length of cloth web to thereby provide necessary slack for performing a uniform fold.

SCIaImsJDrawlngHgures Patented July 18, 1972 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented July 18, 1972 3,677,536

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 SLACK FORMING DEVICE FOR cwm LAYING MACHINE This invention relates generally to the field of cloth laying machines, and more particularly to an improved form of slack forming means facilitating the formation of "S" fold at the end of a cloth laying cycle.

When a cloth spreading machine is used to lay up a face-toface spread of relatively elastic nutterial, such as tricot, using existing cloth fold forming means, a problem exists in the formation of a fold which is substantially tensionless, whereby the edge alignment of a plurality of folds overlying each other is maintained in reasonably accurate register. This problem is caused by the fact that in the making of the fold, the cloth fold catching mechanism pushes into the web of cloth, and thereby creates an undesired tension which results in uneveness. It is also important not to supply an excess of spot material, since this will affect the smoothness of the following layer being spread.

It is already known in the art to provide an amount of slack cloth just prior to the folding operation, so that the fold and web will remain substantially tensionless. However, the known structure involves the use and implement/anon of considerable additional equipment. One attempted solution employs a solenoid and a rack andgear operated by a trip which rotates the positively driven feed foller at the desired point, so as to pulse an additional increment material. Another structure fornn a kink in the vertical drop of the cloth web line by the use of a pivoted bar operating under the force of gravity. This latter method, however, still introduces some tension in the fold, since the bar exerts a gravitational additional load on the cloth which is uncompensated. Still another scheme contemplates the supplying of slack material by the use of an oversized wheel which is actuated at the end of a spread, so as to overdrive the positive drive feed roller which in effect "peels" out more cloth. The difficulty with this procedure lies in the difficulty of controlling slipping, plus theneoessity of engaging, for a relatively long distance, a bare surface on the cloth laying table.

it is, therefore, among the principal objects of the present invention to provide an improved slack forming construction for use with a cloth laying table, in which the above mentioned difficulties have been substantially eliminated.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved means for forming slack at the end of a cloth laying spread which may be readily incorporated into existing prior art cloth laying carriages with a minimum of modification.

Yet another object of the invention lies in the provision of improved slack forming means for use in conjunction with the cloth laying carriage, in which the cost of fabrication may be of a reasonably low order, with consequent wide sale, distribution and use.

A feature of the enclosed embodiment lies in the fact that the slack forming means need not become operative until the end of a cloth laying spread has been reached.

Another feature of the disclosed embodiment lies in the relative simplicity of the additional structure required to accomplish the desired end.

These objects and features, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, will more fully appear in the of the following disclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claims.

in the drawings, to which reference will be made in the specification, similar reference characters have been employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. I is a schematic diagram indicating the problem to be solved by the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the formation of additional cloth web just prior to the formation of a fold, as contemplated by the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a similar schematic view showing the completion of a tensionless fold afler formation of additional required slack.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary similar elevational view showing the engagement of a cloth laying carriage with a cloth fold retaining means, just prior to commencement of operation of the slack forming meam.

FIG. 6 is a similar fragmentary side elevational view showing the relative position of the component parts at the completion of a slack forming operation, with due tensionless fold already formed.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a carriage element showing the operation of known fold-forming bars in conjunction with the inventive structure.

Before entering into a detailed consideration of the structural aspects of the disclosed embodiment, a consideration of FIGS. 1 to 3 in the drawing in considered apposite. in FIG. 1, a web of cloth to is shown as pasing over a positively driven feed roller 11, to be folded beneath a catching mechanism [2 by a fold forming bar 13. Ideally, each of the folds l4 overlie each other immediately beneath the catching mechanism, but am shown in FIG. I, where the cloth is subject to stretch, this condition is difficult to obtain. In the absence of a slack forming mean, the web of cloth 15 indicated in solid lines is incapable of forming a plurality of registered folds. This condition can be alleviated by the provision of a degree of slack indicated in a dotted line 16.

Referring to FIG. 2, an ideal feeding of cloth is shown in which the slack is disposed immediately ahead of the fold forming bar, so that when the catching mechanism 12 overlies the bar; there is sufiicient cloth to allow the web to remain in tensionless condition. The present disclosure concerns itself with a simple and expedient means for providing this slack.

Referring to FIG. 4 in the drawing, the disclosed embodiment, generally indicated by reference character 20, comprises broadly a cloth laying table 21, a carriage element 22, mounted for reciprocation over the table 21, fold forming means 23, and catcher means 24.

The carriage element 22 may be of any well known type, including a pair of end frames, one of which is indicated by reference character 26. Electric motor means (not shown) drives wheeled means 28, which in turn are connected to a power driven roller 29 which rotates in relation to movement of the carriage over the table in the same direction, irrespective of the direction of motion of the carriage. As this mechanism is disclosed in us. Pat. No. 3,0943 I9, assigned to the same assignee as the instant application, it need not be further considered in detail herein. The carriage also includes a cloth roll supporting the means 30 from which a web of cloth 3! moves over the roller 29, and forms a continuous vertically disposed segment 32 immediately above the fold forming means 23. Reversing linkage 23 is of conventional type, and serves to reverse the direction of motion of the carriage at the end of a cloth laying cycle. Ramp members 34 of well known type cooperate with the catcher means 24 to elevate the same during the period in which a fold of cloth is being formed.

The fold forming means 23 may incorporate many of the details of structure shown and described in US. Pat. No. 3,141,665, also assigned to the same assignees, as the instant application. It includes first and second sets of links 41 and 42, respectively, mounted on a frame element 40 at pivotal axes 43 and 44, respectively, Each of the sets of links supports a transversely extending fold forming bar 45 about which the web of cloth being folded passes. The lower edges 46 of the links 41-42 are of arcuate configuration, and are so positioned that when one of the sets of links is pivoted to a horizontal position, the other set of links is locked against pivotal motion. A vertically disposed portion 47 of the frame element 40 is interconnected to the carriage element 22 to be supported thereby. Pivotally mounted catcher operation means 48 serves to elevate the cloth retaining bar of the catcher means 24, as is well known in the art.

The fold forming means 23 differs from prior art construction, in the provision of a relatively fixed frame element 49 and a relatively moveable frame element 50 cooperating therewith disposed at each transverse side of the carriage element. The fixed frame element 49 is mounted directly on the carriage element and the movable frame element 50 is supported by the fixed frame element for a limited longitudinal motion thereon.

Each of the fixed frame elements 40 includes a vertical mounting member 52, and a horizontally extended member 53 formed integrally therewith. The member 53 forms a upper elongated opening 54 having relatively narrow end portions 55 and 56, respectively, interconnected by a wider centrally disposed portion 57. Disposed immediately below the opening 54 is a generally rectangularly shaped lower opening 58 bounded by an upper edge 59, a lower edge 60, and end edges 61 and 62.

The moveable frame elements 50 are, as is the case with the fixed frame elements 49, similar and symmetrically configured. A generally trapazoidally shaped plate 66 is bounded by a lower edge 67, vertical edges 68 and 69 in an upper edge 70. Contact members 71 cooperate with the catcher means 24 at each end of the table, as will appear more fully at a point later in the disclosure. Short shafts 72 and 73 mount rotating members 74, each having first and second bearings 75 and 76, respectively. The bearings 75 and 76 ride for horizontal movement within the end portions 55 and 56 of the upper opening 54, so that pivotal motion can occur in only one shaft 72-73 at any given instant, at which point the moving shaft is so disposed that the bearings are located within the wider central portion 57.

Secured to the plate 66, and slideably positioned within the lower opening 58 are outwardly supported guide plates 77, each bounded by an upper edge 78, a lower edge 79 and end edges 80. Six screws 81 interconnect each guide plate to the trapazoidally shaped plate 66, so that the plate 66 may execute horizontally aligned translational motion with respect to the carriage element. Detents 82 are positioned adjacent each of the end edges 80, and cooperate with spring pins 83 in adjustable limit members 84. The members 84 are interconnected by a turnbuckle screws 85 adjustable from one end 86 which projects through a corresponding bore in the fixed frame element 49. Rotation of the screw in eitherof two opposition directions will enlarge the perrnissible travel of the moveable frame elements 50 with respect to the fixed frame element 49. Normally a gap of 2 1/2 inches will be adequate, and depending upon the degree of stretchability of the web of cloth being spread, this value may be varied from substantially to as much as 3 1/2 inches.

The catcher means 24 is preferably of a type disclosed in US Pat. No. 3,067,996, again assigned to the same assignee as the instant application. It includes a base 89 normally clamped to the table 21 at desired location, and having a vertically disposed member 90 mounting an adjustable stop 91 which contacts a member 71, when the carriage element reaches a point on the table at which the formation of a fold is commenced. A pair of moveable supporting arms, one of which is indicated by reference character 92 supports a transversely extending bar 93 adapted to overlie the cloth fold forming bar of the means 23 which is instantaneously operative. Each arm mounts a cam follower roller 94 engageable with the upper surface 95 of a ramp member 34 so that the transverse bar 93 is progressively elevated until the fold is formed, following which progressive movement moves the rollers 94 past the end of the ramp members onto a horizontal fixed member 96, and subsequently to an interstice 97 wherein the transverse bar 93 is permitted to drop directly upon the fold forming bar, and retain the fold as the bar is withdrawn with the commencement of movement of the carriage element in an opposite direction.

The operation of the embodiment is very similar to that of conventional cloth laying carriages employing fold forming means as disclosed in the above mentioned US. Pat. No. 3,067,996. However, owing to the fact that the fold forming means 23 is capable of limited horizontal movement with respect to the carriage element, the following sequence occurs. When the members 71 contact the spouts 91, further movement of the fold forming means 23 ceases At this moment, the detents 82 are disengaged from the corresponding spring pins 83, and the movable frame element 50 slides relatively to the fixed frame element 49 in a direction opposite that of the still moving carriage element 22. Since the roller 24 is powered by movement of the carriage element, it continues to feed the cloth web, resulting in the formation of slack equivalent to the distance rernoveable frame element 50 slides with respect to the fixed frame element 49. This slack is taken up upon the formation of the fold. The carriage element 22 then comes to a halt at its normal location, that is after the transverse bar 93 has fallen upon the now formed fold, this motion activating the reversing linkage 33, to result in the carriage element commencing motion in an opposite direction. During the movement of the moveable frame element 50 with respect to the frame element 49, the oppositely disposed set of detents 82 became engaged with its corresponding set of spring ends 83, and this relationship is maintained until the carriage has travelled to the opposite end of the table for the formation of a corresponding fold, where the above described action is repeated.

when the device is used for dispensing a quad web which is not inherently resilient, the action may be eliminated by merely rotating the turn buckle screw to reduce the permissible travel of the moveable frame element with respect to the fixed frame element to zero in which case the device functions in a manner precisely the same as prior art devices.

1 wish to be understood that I do not consider the invention limited to the precise details of structure shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

1 claim:

1. In a cloth-laying machine carriage for us in conjunction with a cloth-laying table, said carriage including a cloth-feed means for disposing a continuous web of material upon said table, and having means forming a fold in said web at the completion of a path of travel over said table, said means including a pair of fold-forming bars, and mounting means supporting said bars for pivotal movement with respect to said carriage about a pair of parallel axes, improved means for forming a degree of slack in said web prior to the formation of a fold comprising: said fold forming means having means interconnecting said mounting means to said carriage to provide limited relative longitudinal movement therebetween in a direction parallel to the path of movement of said carriage, and stop means fixed relative to said table and positioned to contact said mounting means just prior to the completion of a path of travel of said carriage over said table; whereby when said carriage reaches a point on said path of travel just prior to that point at which a fold is formed, movement of said bars in said parallel direction may be terminated prior to the termination of movement of said carriage, said cloth-feed means continuing disposal of said continuous web until said carriage terminates movement, to create said degree of slack.

2. Structure in accordance with claim 1, including resilient detent means for periodically retaining said fold-forming means in either of two positions relative to said carriage, and adjustable stop means on said cloth-laying table periodically engaging said fold-fonning means to dislodge said detent means immediately prior to the formation of a fold.

3. Structure in accordance with claim 2, including means permitting relative movement between said bars only when one of said detent means is in engaged condition.

4. Structure in accordance with claim 2, including means to adjust the relative position between said detent means to determine the amount of permissable relative longitudinal movement between said foldJorming means and said carriage.

5. Structure in accordance with claim 1, in which said clothfeed means includes a feed roller positively driven in relation to rnoverrrent of said carriage over said table.

I i i 

1. In a cloth-laying machine carriage for us in conjunction with a cloth-laying table, said carriage including a cloth-feed means for disposing a continuous web of material upon said table, and having means forming a fold in said web at the completion of a path of travel over said table, said means including a pair of fold-forming bars, and mounting means supporting said bars for pivotal movement with respect to said carriage about a pair of parallel axes, improved means for forming a degree of slack in said web prior to the formation of a fold comprising: said fold forming means having means interconnecting said mounting means to said carriage to provide limited relative longitudinal movement therebetween in a direction parallel to the path of movement of said carriage, and stop means fixed relative to said table and positioned to contact said mounting means just prior to the completion of a path of travel of said carriage over said table; whereby when said carriage reaches a point on said path of travel just prior to that point at which a fold is formed, movement of said bars in said parallel direction may be terminated prior to the termination of movement of said carriage, said cloth-feed means continuing disposal of said continuous web until said carriage terminates movement, to create said degree of slack.
 2. Structure in accordance with claim 1, including resilient detent means for periodically retaining said fold-forming means in either of two positions relative to said carriage, and adjustable stop means on said cloth-laying table periodically engaging said fold-forming means to dislodge said detent means immediately prior to the formation of a fold.
 3. Structure in accordance with claim 2, including means permitting relative movement between said bars only when one of said detent means is in engaged condition.
 4. Structure in accordance with claim 2, including means to adjust the relative position between said detent means to determine the amount of permissable relative longitudinal movement between said fold-forming means and said carriage.
 5. Structure in accordance with claim 1, in which said cloth-feed means includes a feed roller positively driven in relation to movement of said carriage over said table. 